- May 11, 2004
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I have been told you can align your front end yourself. Is this true? I have always had to bring it to a shop who has the special equipment. Anyone know?
Jason
Jason
ALIGNING THE FRONT END...MYSELF?
- Thread starter Killer50stang
- Start date
You can get it close enough to drive for a while by doing it yourself but to get it perfect you should take it to an alignment shop. To adjust camber+/- you will have to loosen the bolts holding the mounting plates at the top of the struts, move it down to add more positive camber or move it up increase negative camber. Make adjustments on the tie rods to adjust the toe in. If you don't know what you are doing it would be alot easier to drop down the $45.00 and call it a day.
http://www.corner-carvers.com/
Search in the suspension threads with "alignment".
It will be titled "aligning the front end (long)"
That should be more than enough info.
Search in the suspension threads with "alignment".
It will be titled "aligning the front end (long)"
That should be more than enough info.
EMW150
Founding Member
I've always aligned my own cars. I use string lines to set the toe and an anglefinder to set the camber. Never chewed tires or anything.
302RollinHard
New Member
I know people who will take their car to an alignment shop with an excellent reputation, bring it home and take very precise measurements for toe and caster/camber and then they will do it themselves from then on. Either way, with the proper equipment to be precise, I would trust myself aligning my own car instead of the kids at 90% of the shops you would come by.
- May 11, 2004
- 632
- 0
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I would need a little more detail. I know Good year charges about $70.00 and it's good for 6 months and you can come back for free (warranty). I have never done it myself. Is there a guide? Fact is, around 65MPH she starts to shake a bit and anything over that is even worse. Car is now lowered, stock. I haven't checked the balance on the tires yet either. Anything else is could be?
302RollinHard
New Member
see EMW's post. It isn't perfect, but it will get you through.
Measure the distance from inside of one rim to the other (ideally it would be as close the 9 or 3 oclock position (depending on which side of car) you can get)
Then the trusty old angle finder can let you measure camber.
You may be able to get a rough caster measurement from the front strut ( I have never messed with caster adjustments.)
If she is shaking at a certain speed, tire balancing would be a good place to start. If that doesn't stop it, then you get into suspension stuff like tie-rod ends, and linkages. Maybe you have a tire out of round. If the guy doing the balancing is paying attention, he might catch it, if not, it won't show with a balance. I have had this happen to me before and killed myself trying to find it.
Measure the distance from inside of one rim to the other (ideally it would be as close the 9 or 3 oclock position (depending on which side of car) you can get)
Then the trusty old angle finder can let you measure camber.
You may be able to get a rough caster measurement from the front strut ( I have never messed with caster adjustments.)
If she is shaking at a certain speed, tire balancing would be a good place to start. If that doesn't stop it, then you get into suspension stuff like tie-rod ends, and linkages. Maybe you have a tire out of round. If the guy doing the balancing is paying attention, he might catch it, if not, it won't show with a balance. I have had this happen to me before and killed myself trying to find it.
http://www.corner-carvers.com/
Search in the suspension threads with "alignment".
It will be titled "aligning the front end (long)"
That should be more than enough info.
Thanks for that link. That forum is a damned Goldmine! I love the no carebear policy towards morons too.
